Native Americans celebrate heritage, honored at post's Community Club

Photos by Marny Malin
Keith Colston, from the Tuscarora and Lumbee tribes, dances the mens fancy dance. The dance is a fast, free spirited show of energy that originated in the 1920's and mimics the movement of a free-spirited horse.

Fort Belvoir celebrated American-Indian Heritage Month Monday along with members of the Native America's People LLC and Tuscarora-Lumbee Tribe - a tribal organization originally from North Carolina.

The event featured music and several dances used by Native Americans to showcase their character and strength as a people. More importantly, according to N.A.P. director, Keith Colston, performances like this illustrate the beauty of the culture to non-native audiences.

"It's incredibly humbling to shed light on our culture and to show people just who we are. We're proud of our way of life and we enjoy sharing it with others," Colston told the audience. "We're a very diverse group, but our diversity is not meant as a barrier. What we do has balance and there are many similarities between Native Americans and other cultures."

Colston, who serves as cultural consultant for the Baltimore American Indian Center and executive director for the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, then invited all military veterans in attendance on stage for acknowledgement.

Standing side-by-side with Native Americans, Colston added they were warriors most deserving of our appreciation.

"Politicians may make the decisions, but our warriors are the ones who carry out the orders," Colston said. "As Native Americans, we appreciate the things they've done and will do for us in the future. Without them, our freedom as a nation would not be possible."

Before concluding his speech, Colston encouraged everyone to learn their own culture and to be proud of whom they are.

"We're grateful for the ways Native Americans have enriched our country," Installation Commander Col. Jerry Blixt said afterwards. "I believe we'll walk away today with an even greater appreciation."